Category Archives: Cops and courts

Update on Kelly Merz – an interview with his brother, Keith Merz

Posted on April 9, 2012 by brucesmith49

  By Bruce A. Smith  Last week, Keith Merz, the brother of convicted murderer Kelly Merz, contacted the Mountain News and shared personal information that he felt was missing from our initial reportage.

Posted in Cops and courts, Culture, NTCC | 3 Comments

NPS Ranger – with ties to Margaret Anderson – becomes agency whistleblower, writes book

Posted on April 3, 2012 by brucesmith49

  By Bruce A. Smith  Rob Danno, the former Chief Ranger at Bryce Canyon National Park who gave Margaret Anderson her first ranger job in the National Park Service, has written an account of his whistle blowing activities within the … Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, Cops and courts, Culture, Environment, Mount Rainier, Nature, People Profiles, Remarkable men and women | 9 Comments

Former NTCC lay pastor convicted of homicide and sexual violations

Posted on March 30, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith Kelly Merz, 51, has been convicted of First Degree Murder in the shooting death of his roommate, Cori Lewis, on September 11, 20011, the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office announced this week.

Posted in Cops and courts, NTCC | 13 Comments

Burglaries in Ashford

Posted on March 24, 2012 by brucesmith49

  Special to the Mountain News   Sarah Scott, chair of the Upper Nisqually Community Forum, announced today that the Ashford area has been hit this week with a series of burglaries.  Ms. Scott is also the proprietress of the Cedar … Continue reading →

Posted in Ashford, Cops and courts | Leave a comment

Remembering Charlie and Braden Powell

Posted on February 12, 2012 by brucesmith49

  Over the past week, a handful of Puyallup-area school teachers began collecting stories about Charlie, 7, and Braden, 5, Powell, the two boys killed by their father, Josh Powell, on February 5 near Graham.

Posted in Cops and courts, Culture, Events, Graham News, South Hill | 2 Comments

Lakewood cop arrested for stealing from memorial fund for slain police officers

Posted on February 8, 2012 by brucesmith49

Special to the Mountain News Editor’s Note:  The Mountain News received the following press release today from the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office describing the theft of funds from a memorial fund established to care for the children and families of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cops and courts, Culture | 3 Comments

Snowshoer missing at Paradise; area closed to visitors due to ongoing search effort

Posted on January 15, 2012 by brucesmith49

Special to the Mountain News Yong Chun Kim, a 66 year-old Tacoma man, has gone missing this weekend while snowshoeing on Mount Rainier in the Paradise area, Lee Taylor, Chief of Interpretative Services at Mount Rainier National Park announced today.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Cops and courts, Culture, Environment, Mount Rainier | 3 Comments

Thousands honor NPS Ranger Margaret Anderson with a formal law enforcement funeral

Posted on January 11, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith  As befitting her status as a licensed police officer, Ranger Margaret Anderson received a stately and precise funerary service on Tuesday, January 10.  Held at Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, the memorial was attended by dozens of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cops and courts, Culture, Eatonville News, Mount Rainier, Parkland, Spanaway | 4 Comments

Candlelight Vigil draws hundreds in Eatonville to honor NPS Ranger Margaret Anderson

Posted on January 8, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith  On a little hill east of Eatonville and silhouetted by a rosy sunset on a crystal-clear evening, hundreds gathered Sunday, January 8 to light candles and honor fallen Mount Rainier Ranger Margaret Anderson.

Posted in Ashford, Cops and courts, Culture, Eatonville News, Events, Mount Rainier | 2 Comments

Mount Rainier National Park staff and locals grieve for slain Ranger

Posted on January 8, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith  A press conference held in Ashford, Thursday, January 5, to discuss Mount Rainier National Park’s response to the fatal shooting of NPS Ranger Margaret Anderson on January 1, revealed the profound depth of grief caused by … Continue reading →

Posted in Ashford, Cops and courts, Culture, Eatonville News, Events, Mount Rainier, Nature, Parkland, Politics | 3 Comments